Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 06, 2025, 12:49:57 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.  (Read 2487 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline valvetones

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 112
  • I love Tube amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« on: June 14, 2022, 07:37:37 pm »
Hello!
Been awhile , I hope you all are doing well.
So ive been playing with the EF86 normal channel on my vibroverb build. I built it with the EF86 to put the channels in phase so I could jumper channels.
This was to be able to boost gain and maybe get earlier breakup as well as to have a different tonal palate.

Well, I realized that when I jumper channels , I’m putting the two 1 Meg resistors in parallel, effectively making it 500k and bleeding half my guitar signal to ground before it even hits a grid.
This problem nearly negates the purpose of jumpering the channels in the first place.
I had considered changing the 1M resistors to 2 meg so the two parallel resistors will be 1 meg when channels are jumpered.
But then when there is no jumper and I’m actually only playing one channel, then it will be 2 meg.

What effects electrically and also sound wise might I observe if I used the 2 meg resistors , when only playing through one channel?

Thank you for your insights fellas. Hats off to the moderators.

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2022, 07:50:29 pm »
Just do it. The difference is minor.

Offline d95err

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 244
  • I love Tube amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2022, 02:40:25 am »
You are not bleeding half the signal to ground. It is only a small change of input impedance.

1M or 500k will make no significant difference to the signal level (unless there is a huge series resistance infront of it).


Offline nandrewjackson

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 430
  • "Don't stop here; this is Bat country"
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2022, 06:59:18 am »
Could it also be said that the guitar signal coming in "sees" the parallel input grids as lower Z than if they were being used independently?  Or do the input grids retain their individual Z despite being parallel?

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2022, 01:42:12 pm »
> do the input grids retain their individual Z despite being parallel?

Read a chapter on "parallel resistances".

Offline nandrewjackson

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 430
  • "Don't stop here; this is Bat country"
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2022, 11:27:35 pm »
I'm familiar with parallel resistances.


1 /  ( [1/R]+[1/R]+[1/R] )


But I was wondering if each grid being part of an active component (triode) would be an exception to the rule. As if the active component (triode) may have a different equation, a different "rule of thumb" for parallel Z, as opposed to parallel passive resistors.

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2022, 04:08:12 pm »
But the 1Meg is not inside the triode.

Anyway, how would your pickup know?

Offline pdf64

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2965
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Raising the 1M resistor on the input.
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2022, 07:08:31 am »
Pretty much the only loading that the grid presents to the input is its Miller capacitance.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/5-in-5-for-charlie This is my step son and his family. He is running 5 marathons in 5 days to support the research into STXBP1, the genetic condition my grandson Charlie has. Please consider supporting him! BBC News feature  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm26llp

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program